Young love: Melanie Slade and her Arsenal player boyfriend Theo Walcott who bought her a Ferrari for her 21st birthday - which she sent back

She's always been rather shy of the limelight and has never fully embraced the lavish WAG lifestyle.

So it's little wonder that Melanie Slade has turned down an expensive birthday present from Arsenal player boyfriend Theo Walcott for being too flash.

Student Melanie, who turns 21 this month, was surprised with a £140,000 Ferrari California with personalised numberplates from Walcott, 20, for her upcoming birthday.

But she told him she didn't want it and was more than happy with her £20,000 white VW Beetle that he bought her for her 18th birthday.

Melanie, who is studying physiotherapy at St George's Hospital in London, thought the Ferrari was 'vulgar' and too flashy to be driving round her campus.

And she told her friends that she wished that Walcott, who earns £60,000 a week at the Premiership club, was less showy with his money.
A friend said: 'Melanie turned her nose up and said she couldn't believe he spent so much on it. She thought it was a waste of money.

'She has driven it but is back to driving her Beetle. Mel doesn't want the WAG lifestyle. She was embarrassed her uni mates knew she had a car worth so much when some students struggle to have enough money to eat.'

Melanie and Theo have been dating since they met at the WestQuay shopping centre in Southampton in 2006, and she was thrust into the media spotlight when she accompanied him to the World Cup in Germany.

But despite having many opportunities open up for her since, such as becoming the face of outdoor clothing specialist Helly Hansen, she is still determined to qualify for her degree and work as a physiotherapist.

And she also admits she is not one to totter around in designer clothes and stiletto heels and much prefers her tracksuits.

She said: 'I'm always in comfortable stuff really. Especially being at uni, my style is very relaxed, I love my jeans and a baggy sweatshirt.'

'Waste of money': Melanie didn't want a £140,000 Ferrari California as she thought it was too flashy

Enlarge Who needs a Ferrari? Mel at the wheel of her beloved VW bug - a gift from Walcott on her 18th birthday